Essay name: Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study)
Author:
Srider Basudevan Iyer
Affiliation: University of Mumbai / Sanskrit, University Department
This essay studies the history of Devi (the Goddess) in relation with worship using Tantra, Yantra and Mantra. The study explores the concept of the 'Female Principle' or Goddess, examining her role and significance in ancient Indian society.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
24 (of 55)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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chapter 1. Introduction 24 K膩mik膩gamam 46 identifies these twenty-eight 艢ivatantras with the
various body parts of the goddess, her ornaments, her garments. The
remaining parts and her accessories, hair etc. all are identified with the
other supplementary tantras. The great I艣vari, who is one with the
great I艣vara, is thus contemplated in the form of all the tantras47.
From the standpoint of the Sakta's, the highest principle is
referred to as 'Mah膩tripurasundari' or as 艢r墨; who is, contemplated
upon as constituting the quintessence of the female trinity
corresponding to the male trinity. This can be easily understood with
the help of the following table.
鞓�.
Devi
Devata
Durg膩 or Mah膩k膩l墨
Rudra
惭补丑腻濒补办蝉尘墨
痴颈峁ａ箛耻.
惭补丑腻蝉补谤补蝉惫补迟颈
叠谤补丑尘腻
S盲ktavada and the divisions of the Sakt墨 doctrine:
The belief or system of thought that upholds the belief that
goddess or Sakti is the whole'n'sole of creation and the resultant
thereupon is known as 'Sakta vada' and is similar in nature to the
'm膩y膩v膩da' of Samkar膩c膩rya.
46 Kak Ramachandra and Sastri Harabhatta, Opcit. P.1
47 Sastri Gaurinath, Opcit. P.
n/
